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63305 Bobkepple (provisional designation 2001 FE) is a carbonaceous Hygiean asteroid from the outer regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 17 March 2001, by astronomer David Healy at the Junk Bond Observatory in Arizona, United States. The asteroid was named after Bob Kepple, co-author of The Night Sky Observer's Guide.

Orbit and classification

Bobkepple is a member of the Hygiea family (601), a large family of carbonaceous outer-belt asteroids, named after 10 Hygiea, the main belt's fourth-largest asteroid. It orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 2.7–3.7 AU once every 5 years and 9 months (2,091 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.15 and an inclination of 6° with respect to the ecliptic.

The body's observation arc begins with a precovery image taken by Spacewatch in March 1995, six years prior to its official discovery observation at Junk Bond Observatory.

Physical characteristics

Rotation period

As of 2017, no rotational lightcurve of Bobkepple has been obtained from photometric observations. The asteroid's rotation period, spin axis and shape remains unknown.

Diameter and albedo

According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Bobkepple measures 6.216 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.055.

Naming

This minor planet was named after deep-sky astronomer George Robert Kepple, creator of the "Astro Cards" observing aids and co-author of The Night Sky Observer's Guide, popular among deep-sky observers. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 4 May 2004 (M.P.C. 51982).

References

1. ^ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 63305 Bobkepple (2001 FE)" (2017-01-26 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
2. ^ Schmadel, Lutz D. (2006). "(63305) Bobkepple [3.20, 0.16, 5.6]". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 223. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-34361-5_2658. ISBN 978-3-540-34361-5.
3. ^ "Asteroid 63305 Bobkepple – Nesvorny HCM Asteroid Families V3.0". Small Bodies Data Ferret. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
4. ^ Masiero, Joseph R.; Mainzer, A. K.; Grav, T.; Bauer, J. M.; Cutri, R. M.; Dailey, J.; et al. (November 2011). "Main Belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE. I. Preliminary Albedos and Diameters". The Astrophysical Journal. 741 (2): 20. arXiv:1109.4096. Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...68M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/68. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
5. ^ "63305 Bobkepple (2001 FE)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
6. Nesvorný, D.; Broz, M.; Carruba, V. (December 2014). "Identification and Dynamical Properties of Asteroid Families". Asteroids IV. pp. 297–321. arXiv:1502.01628. Bibcode:2015aste.book..297N. doi:10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816532131-ch016. ISBN 978-0-8165-3213-1.
7. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2 September 2017.

External links

• The Night Sky Observer's Guide by George Robert Kepple and Glen Sanner
• Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info Archived 16 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine)
• Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
• Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
• Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (60001)-(65000) – Minor Planet Center
• 63305 Bobkepple at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
  • Ephemeris · Observation prediction · Orbital info · Proper elements · Observational info
• 63305 Bobkepple at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit viewer · Orbit parameters · Physical parameters

• Minor planet object articles (numbered)
• Hygiea asteroids
• Discoveries by David Healy (astronomer)
• Named minor planets
• Astronomical objects discovered in 2001